OAKLAND — Quinn Cook played the best game of his NBA career on Friday night. In a 98-93 loss to the Kings, Cook posted career highs with 25 points — on 10-13 shooting— in 40 minutes, as he filled in for the injured Stephen Curry.
For those who watch Cook every day, his performance came as no surprise.
“I felt like this was coming,” said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. “I thought he was fantastic. He really lit it up, gave us a huge boost, gave us 40 minutes on a night when Omri (Casspi) goes down; we are already short-handed. Quinn gave us a huge lift.”
Cook’s meandering professional path has sent him from the Dallas Mavericks, to the New Orleans Pelicans, and now with the Warriors. He has bounced from the developmental NBA G league, up to the NBA, back down, and back up again— in three years time.
Injuries have paved the way for Cook to show he can play — and, at times, dominate — in the league.
Since Curry injured his ankle five games ago, Cook has seen more playing time. Perhaps he experienced nerves early on, as Kerr suggested, producing only 14 points on 6-21 shooting in the first three games of increased minutes. Cook has looked more comfortable in the past two contests, however, averaging 19 points on 63 percent shooting.
“Coaches, front office, my vets, my whole team (were) just telling me to stay aggressive,” Cook said. “They know what I can do on the floor, just making plays. As a young player when you have guys like that encouraging you to play your game, it helps tremendously.”
Last month, Cook dropped 41 points in a G League game. Earlier this month, he did it again.
His Warriors teammates noticed, then waited for his sharpshooting to follow.
“I have been waiting on that Quinn,” Draymond Green said. “You watch him go down there in the D league and score 40 and 45, we needed that. I was waiting for him to come out and play like that.”
An onslaught of injuries have derailed the Warriors roster, including three of the team’s All-Stars. Curry has missed the past four games after he injured the same ankle that has plagued him throughout the season. Klay Thompson hasn’t played in either of the past two games due to a fractured thumb.
Friday brought more bad news: Kevin Durant will miss at least two weeks after an MRI showed an incomplete rib cartilidge fracture. Hours later, Warriors forward Omri Casspi exited the game with an ankle injury and didn’t return.
Amid all of the injuries — none of which are expected to linger into the playoffs— lies a silver lining: more opportunity for the role players. Cook has taken advantage.
Friday night was clearly his best as a pro, but has shown he is capable of running Golden State’s offense throughout the past week. He has only turned the ball over five times in the past five games.
Golden State’s previous championship runs prove the need for a solid bench. In Cook, Kerr sees a trustworthy option who has the potential to light it up, just as Cook showed on Friday.
“I think he is a really good backup point guard,” Kerr said. “He is an unbelievable teammate and worker, and he adds a lot to the character of the team. I love Quinn. He is a long-term NBA player in my book.”
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